Our Work

Blue Raster helps you tell your story through interactive
mapping technology. Make your message clear, exciting,
and user-friendly for both mobile and web platforms.

Natural Hazards

Blue Raster Collaborates with MIT to Address Environmental Hazards in Carceral Facilities

Posted on by Chigo Ibeh

At Blue Raster, we are committed to leveraging technology for equity and environmental justice. Our latest collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab - Space Enabled Research group and Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), is a participatory research initiative designed to shed light on the environmental hazards faced by prisons, jails, and detention centers across the United States. From extreme heat and air pollution to flooding and wildfires, this project aims to document the challenges that these facilities impose on both the incarcerated individuals and the surrounding communities.

MIT Media Lab

The heart of the project lies in its community-driven approach. It brings together a diverse team of academics, grassroots organizers, and, most importantly, those directly impacted by incarceration. Our role at Blue Raster was to transform the vision of this initiative into an interactive mapping tool that not only highlights these environmental hazards but also elevates the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals. By incorporating their stories, we aim to facilitate a deeper understanding of the human impact behind the data.

Blue Raster's Role in the Project

Our team was tasked with transforming a wealth of qualitative and quantitative data into a user-friendly mapping tool. Our development process emphasized community engagement, gathering input from focus groups and interviews to ensure the platform reflects the needs of those most affected by the carceral system.

The development process, led by Dr. Ufuoma Ovienmhada from MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled Research Group, unfolded in three pivotal phases. It began with in-depth interviews with community organizers, many of whom had firsthand experience with the prison system. These discussions highlighted the essential environmental data needed to support their advocacy efforts. In response, we designed a tool that enables users to visualize key environmental hazards affecting prisons, empowering organizers to drive meaningful policy change.

The tool developed using ArcGIS Dashboard and Experience Builder was utilized to house and display all the information captured as part of this initiative. It featured several tabs for viewing carceral facilities on map with more specific details to each facility attributed to each point using pop-ups and info tables. Additionally, users can navigate to the 'Insights' tab to learn more about  risk factors these facilities experience. These  risk factors include particulate matter, wildfire, overpopulation, extreme heat, flooding and drought intensity. And finally, user can navigate to the 'Storytelling' tab to read and listen to narratives and accounts from previous inmates around some of the environmental conditions they faced when they were detained or incarcerated at specific facilities.

The team collaborated closely with Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), a human rights activism group. The FTP movement is inspired by the abolitionist movement against mass incarceration and the environmental justice movement, which have both been led by the communities of color who are hardest hit by prisons and pollution.  For this project, they were very instrumental in outlining requirements for the tool and further refining the tool based on the feedback gathered from focus groups.

Gathering stories from individuals within the system.

Monitoring of Environmental Hazards

Utilizing Esri’s powerful GIS software, we designed an accessible interface that features not only quantitative data but also qualitative narratives. These personal stories add a vital layer of context to the environmental data.

In its Beta form, the Toxic Prisons Mapping Project is a starting point for ongoing monitoring of environmental hazards related to carceral facilities. We envision this tool evolving through continuous feedback and contributions from the community, particularly those who have been directly impacted by the system, providing a resource for real-time awareness and long-term advocacy.

The dedication of individuals like Dr. Ovienmhada, Mei Azaad, and the many activists who shared their stories has been instrumental in bringing this project to life.

We invite you to explore the mapping tool at it's official website.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to refine the tool and expand its capabilities.

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Blue Raster Pioneering Imagery Management Technology and Delivery Workflows with ArcGIS

Posted on by Chigo Ibeh

Many organizations prioritize the accessibility of imagery and image-derived products for visualization and analysis among both internal and external users. As such, efficient  management and delivery workflows are crucial for these organizations to fully harness the power of spatial data and maximize their product impact. Use cases for aerial images and raster data include land cover classification, urban planning, natural resource management, emergency response and disaster management, precision agriculture and conservation, environmental monitoring and change detection/climate change analysis.

Blue Raster specializes in utilizing the robust capabilities of GIS and cloud services to facilitate the seamless assembly, analysis, management and dissemination of multiresolution imagery, and raster data from different sources and timeframes. Our expertise helps organizations enhance their spatial data management and analysis capabilities.

Employing ArcGIS for Imagery Hosting, Analysis & Management

Empowered by cutting-edge technology, Blue Raster excels in tapping into the full potential of ArcGIS for image hosting, analysis, and delivery workflows across ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online. With ArcGIS Image Server and ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online, we enable organizations to host and conduct dynamic imagery analysis on an unprecedented scale.

The scalability and performance of ArcGIS Image Server redefines the boundaries of what is achievable in geospatial analytics. Additionally, by integrating imagery into the ArcGIS Online platform, organizations can create compelling and informative maps that facilitate a deeper understanding of their spatial data.

Providing On-Demand Imagery Delivery Services

We specialize in providing swift, on-demand collection and smooth delivery of imagery through versatile means including API keys, custom widgets, online user interfaces, and application plugins. Our expertise ensures that you have the necessary tools and support to cater to diverse requirements and preferences.

Whether you need quick access to specific imagery, or a tailored solution embedded within your applications, Blue Raster stands ready to assist, offering a range of flexible and efficient options to meet your unique needs.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of seamless delivery workflows in ensuring timely access to critical imagery resources. Our solutions are designed to optimize delivery pipelines, minimizing latency and maximizing efficiency. Whether it's delivering imagery to remote field teams or integrating seamlessly with existing systems, we prioritize speed, reliability, and scalability to meet the dynamic needs of our clients.

Our commitment to innovation extends beyond just technology; it's ingrained in our culture. We're constantly exploring new ways to push the boundaries of what's possible, whether it's through advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, or data visualization. By staying at the forefront of technological innovation, we empower our clients to stay ahead of the curve and achieve their objectives with confidence. Our teams of professionals are here to assist you in developing and deploying your delivery workflows.

Pioneering Collaborative Cloud-Based Imagery Management

For over a decade, Blue Raster has been working with clients and partners to deliver large volumes of imagery to support various geospatial workflows. Our cloud specialty has opened new frontiers for collaborative  management. Maximizing the cloud's scalability, organizations can now store, share, and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time. This not only streamlines internal processes but also facilitates effortless collaboration with external stakeholders.

Across the globe, our clients and partners are employing our services to manage and deliver their imagery to support their projects and organizational goals. Here are some examples:

Learn more about our work here

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ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management Workshop

Posted on by Joseph Nadonley
Emergency Managment Disaster Response training

Both man-made hazards and natural disasters significantly impact populations across the globe. Advanced preparation is becoming more critical than ever, especially within the government entities that manage crisis response and emergency management. To answer this demand, Esri has organized a new category of out-of-the-box toolsets designed to mitigate the risk of hazards and delegate resources in the wake of disasters.

ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management encompasses a range of products that help emergency management officials to manage response resources and visualize events as they occur across time and space. Earlier this month, the Blue Raster team attended a workshop on this program set at Esri’s Redlands Campus in Southern California. This event focused heavily on the Emergency Management Operations Gallery group, which features seven applications with seven unique maps and 33 total feature layers.

Emergency Management Disaster Response training
Emergency Management Disaster Response

Our team gained significant experience with each of the applications, from configuration to deployment. We were particularly impressed by the cross-component integration and real-time feature updates. Once properly configured, this toolset features an extremely user-friendly interface with numerous options for customization of outputs and data visualization. Furthermore, one-click data inputs and feature updates result in fast and efficient communication of changing conditions.

20190730_172501

Blue Raster is excited to add ArcGIS Solutions for Emergency Management to our continuously growing line of GIS professional services. We look forward to being able to contribute to emergency management preparedness and disaster response efforts.

A New Chapter on Tsunami Design

Posted on by Kevin McMaster

New design provisions for tsunami loads and effects have been developed by the ASCE 7 Tsunami Loads and Effects Subcommittee (TLESC), and are included in the just-released 2016 edition of the internationally recognized loading standard ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-16). This resource and accompanying data was developed over a 34-month period by a subcommittee of almost 30 members, along with the contributions and review of numerous other state, national, and international stakeholders. To provide the authoritative distribution of this tsunami design information, Blue Raster and the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE have created the ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application.

Offshore Tsunami Amplitude Analysis

The ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application provides insight into the first national, consensus-based standard for tsunami resilience for use in the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Structural engineers are already being asked to incorporate tsunami-resilient designs in various critical building and facility structures in the five western states, The profession and the affected communities now have a comprehensive consensus on loading and design standards for buildings and other structures.

Transect of Elevation

The new tsunami design zone maps define the coastal zones where structures of specified risk would be designed for tsunami resistance. Easy access to this data through the ASCE Tsunami Design Geodatabase application is imperative for the resiliency of our coastal infrastructure.

Keeping America’s Infrastructure Safe with ASCE

Posted on by Kevin McMaster

Blue Raster and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are pleased to announce the launch of the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool, to accompany the just-released 2016 edition of the internationally recognized loading standard ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-16). This tool is designed to provide users with environmental loading limit information for infrastructure based on location and risk category. For example, how much ice thickness must a school be able to safely carry in Minnesota? To what level of tsunami inundation will a hospital need to be elevated in California? To find out, the new ASCE 7 Hazard Tool provides a single destination for quickly retrieving your choice of hazard data, including:

  • basic wind speed
  • seismic accelerations
  • flood zone and base flood elevation
  • ground snow load
  • rain load
  • tsunami-load risk
  • ice thickness

A full downloadable PDF report of all variables selected is also available for incorporation into site studies or building construction documents.

The fully functional site will be available to paid subscribers only (following the initial Beta period), however, wind and tsunami data will be available to all to show site functionality and utility. Make the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool the first stop for new infrastructure construction in America, and help keep us safe from environmental hazards.

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